The Herb Garden is located to the right of the main entrance. The goal of the herb garden is to show the community that a wide variety of herbs grow in our local climate. This includes commonly experienced herbs and more unusual herbs and varieties. Click the title to learn more.
The goal of the herb garden is to show the community that a wide variety of herbs grow in our local climate. You'll find many common perennial herbs (which come back each year), such as rosemary, thyme, and oregano. You will also find varieties that must be planted annually in southeast Pennsylvania, such as sage, tarragon, basil, and dill. In addition, there are some more unusual herbs such as St John's Wort, lemongrass, and gotu kola.
Visitors are welcome to take a few sprigs home for their own use. (Make sure to leave some for others to enjoy!)
About herb gardening
Herb gardening has become increasingly popular as people focus on living healthier lifestyles - fresh herbs are a delicious and nutritious way to season almost any meal with a healthy flavor boost. Growing your own herbs can save you money and keep fresh ingredients on hand without a trip to the market. Some herb gardeners find it changes how they cook.
Herbs are some of the easiest plants to grow, which makes herb gardening great for novice gardeners - and a great way to introduce children to gardening. These low maintenance plants provide an opportunity for children to become hands-on with caring for plants and involved in cooking and fostering healthier eating habits.
In addition to flavoring food and drinks, herbs are used in aromatherapy and for medicinal purposes. They can be a beautiful and aromatic addition to any garden.
In Pennsylvania, outdoor herb gardens come into their prime during the warm growing season (spring through early fall). Herbs plants tend to be prolific. In winter months, fresh herbs can be grown indoors to extend the growing season year-round. Once established, some herbs such as mint, oregano, and rosemary can be grown outdoors in cold weather as well.
Get started with herb gardening
- Decide which herbs you want to plant - think about the flavors you love to taste!
- Choose a location. Many herbs prefer full sun (at least 6 hours of sun each day) and well drained soil. You can have a garden exclusively dedicated to herbs, or you can blend them in seamlessly to complement the other flowers and shrubs in your garden.
- Check out our web page for lots more information: Chester County Master Gardeners - Herb Gardening
